When Hector Berlioz walked into a the Theatre Odéon in Paris on September 11, 1827, to see a performance of Shakespeare's play Hamlet, little did he know that that experience would change his life forever. Staring in the play was a new young, and beautiful, actress, named Harriet Smithson. Berlioz, a poor, 24 year old music student, was immediately smitten. He had found his "Ophelia". For the next three years, he was completely infatuated with her, although during that time, they never met. He wrote letters to her, but she never replied. He produced concerts to get her attention, but she never noticed. He loved her incessantly, but much of it was all in his mind. He spoke not a word of English and she spoke not a word of French. He had fallen in love with her as a character in a play; a picture on a playbill.

In 1830, he composed his masterpiece "Simphonie Fantastique," a grand symphonic work in five movements. This piece broke with all the conventional expectations of a symphony work at that time and incorporated a story that had a striking resemblance to Hector Berlioz's own life and his infatuation with Harriet Smithson. For three years, he had anguished over his incredible love for this actress. He could not eat or sleep. Every thought of his was consumed by his love for her.

Simphonie Fantastique begins with love, but, however, ends with rejection, murder, and death; a violent dream of his obsession, and then rejection by Harriet Smithson, played out in Berlioz's mind.

Titled "Episodes from the Life of an Artist," the Simphonie tells the story of a young composer who has overdosed on opium and while in this delirious state, has a "fantastic" dream. He falls in love with a beautiful woman; they dance; they share a summer evening in the countryside. But then things turn dark. She betrays and rejects his love; he kills her, and then is sentenced to death by the guillotine. The piece ends with the famous "Witches Sabbath" where the melody of his beloved has become grotesque and incessant. Amidst shrieks and groans, the bells and low brass toll the Dies Irae, the famous 'Day of Wrath’ chant from the Roman Catholic Mass for the Dead.

When the piece was premiered in 1830, Berlioz invited the actress Harriet Smithson to attend, but she did not. She had in fact instructed her servants to never allow this man Hector Berlioz near her. Due to his numerous letters and invitations over the years, she viewed him as a "stalker" and she ardently avoided contact of any kind.

Later, however, in 1832, the piece was performed again in Paris. By this time, Harriet Smithson was no longer the glamorous poster girl, riding the tides of rave reviews and thousands of adoring fans. Tastes had changed in the fickle Paris audiences and she was now poor, and in debt. She attended the second performance of Berlioz's Simphonie Fantastique; agreeing to go to the concert before she knew what was on the program and who the composer was.
When she entered the box overlooking the stage, there was quite a stir in the audience, almost everyone knew the story behind the Simphonie Fantastique and Berlioz's unparallel infatuation with the famous actress.

A year later, in 1833, much to the disapproval of both of their parents, they were married. Although they remained married until Harriet's death in 1854, they were mostly estranged after the first six years.
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During the concerts of the Allentown Symphony on April 13 (8:00pm) and April 14 (3:00pm) we will be recreating Hector Berlioz's dream through the projection of a film behind the orchestra. You will experience what Berlioz might have seen in his mind as he dreamed this fantastic dream and composed the melodies for his symphony at the same time. Scenes of psychedelic colors, close-ups of instruments, shadow puppets dancing, photos of beautiful countryside and storm clouds; and then, skulls, fire, smoke, and bells tolling for the dance of the dead. It will be a world premiere of this film.

Also featured on the concert will be Ludwig van Beethoven's famous Overture to Leonore No. 3, with the triumphant off-stage trumpet solo performed by Bethlehem resident, Larry Wright; and the wonderfully jazzy Piano Concerto in G by Maurice Ravel, another noted composer from Paris who took the world by storm with his piece "Bolero." This piano concerto will be performed by Venezuelan pianist, Vanessa Perez, whose new Chopin CD was just released by Telarc to rave reviews. You won't want to miss hearing her live.